Aeroplane.



J. S. SPAINHOUR.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE9 19:7.

Patented June 1918.

mm a m Aeroplanes often carry spare parts such as.v

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Jl'lhlhiES S. SLAIWHGUR, 0F HEItIJPSTlEAD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNUR. 0F ONE-HALE T0 SIDNEY IE. TIBEGKWITH, 01E HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK.

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Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented June dd, hid.

To aii' whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES d. Srnrunzonn, a citizen of the United States, residin in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, ave invented certain new and useful improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rudders and elevators which are mounted on the rear end of the body or fuselage of an aeroplane.

a rudder of one design and one or more elevators of another design. tine important feature of my invention is to make the rudder and the two elevators absolutely iden-' tical in shape and size, and also to make them interchangeable, thereby making it possible to reduce the number of spare parts which need to be carried. My invention also provides for the substitution of one of these parts for another. I

lit is a common expedient to extend the pivot line to a position where each of the vanes, rudder and also the elevators has one part lying in front of the pivot and an-v other part in the rear. in other instances the vane lies entirely in the rear of the pivotal line. My present invention is applicable to either type of vane. Y

' The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a rear endview in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section on the line 46l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a view, in elevation, of the hinge attached to the fuselage.

Referring to Fig. l the rudder A and the elevators B, which are identical in shape and size, are shown each in its middle position,

these parts being inounted on the rear end of the fuselage, which is T-shaped, and having a horizontal portion 6 and a vertical till portion D. The elevators are simply rudders pivoted on a transverse horizontal line of the back of the machinewhile the rudder proper is'a vane pivoted on a transverse vertical line at the back of the note-- chine. lhat is, the rudder A is pivotedalong the edge D, Fig. 3, and the elevators B are pivoted alert the edges E, E, Fig. 2..

The-arc in whic the vanes swing is indicated by dotted arrows. Referring to Fig. 2, the inner'edgesh oi the elevators.

cept for the daring of the edges ill. The

lower edge G (Fig. 3) of the rudder is similarly inclined upward, the inner vertical pivoted edge extending practically the full length of the vertical limb D of the rear end of the fuselage. This feature oi malting the rudder and elevators absolutely identical in shape and size is an important one. By making these elements identical, ll make them also interchan eable' (even the hinge parts being identical and thereby reducing the number of spare parts which need to be carried.

it is alsov possible to substitute one of these parts -tor another. For example, in case one elevator is broken and no spare parts are at hand, the rudder may be substituted for the broken elevator and the dyer can, "et along without a rudder.

The ru derA and elevators B are each connected separately to the "l"-shaped end of the machine by means of a hinge which is of a-peculiar design to give a long bearing. llhe hinge comprises a hollow hin pin ltll (Fig. 4:), usually of steel bcltedor otherwise tastened to a strut U which terms a part of the canvas covered frame of the vane (rudder orelevator), said hinge pin being surrounded by a tube J of brass which in turn is embraced by a loop it, the leaves ll of which are fastened to the rear member of the fuselage, and a loop M, the leaves It of which are fastened to the strut O of the rudder or elevator.

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Though llhave described with great particularity in detail a certain specific embodiment of my invention, yet it is not to be understood therefrom thatthe invention is lltltl restricted to the specific embodiment disclosed. Various other modifications ,in detail and in the arran ement of the parts may 1. An aeroplane having mounted on its rear end a rudder and a plurality oi ole vators, said rudder and said elevators being identical in shape and size, the plane of the elevators intersecting. the rudder and the inner edges of the elevators flaring outward .to permit the rudder to swing freely between them. I

2. An aeroplane having mounted on its rear end a rudder and a plurality of elevators, said rudder and said elevators being identical in shape and size, and being interchangeable. s

3. An aeroplane having mounted on its rear end a rudder and a plurality of elevators, said rudder and said elevators being interchangeable.

4. An aeroplane having a rudder and elevators, and hinges connecting the said rudder and elevators to the rear end of the aeroplane, the portions of said hinges on the rudder beingadapted for operative engagement with the portions of the elevator hinges on the end of the aeroplane, and vice versa, so as to permit the interchange of the rudder with the elevators.

5. An aeroplane having a vane hinged thereto, the hinge comprising a' pin fastened to a part of the frame of said .vane, a tube surrounding said pin and loops surrounding said tube and fastened one loop to the frame of the vane and the other to the frame of the aeroplane.

In witness whereof I have'hereunto signed my name.

JAMES S. SPAINHOUR. 

